Swift Water Dangers
February 1, 2024 - Madera County Sheriff's Office officials report that with multiple storm systems in the forecast, creek and river levels throughout the county are likely to rise. Don’t underestimate the power of moving water that can cause injuries and deaths. Be prepared and aware.
Moving water is deceptively strong and can easily overpower even strong swimmers. Here are some safety tips to keep in mind.
NEVER try to walk, swim or drive through flooding or swift water- STOP! Turn Around, Don’t Drown!
- Swift moving water is deceiving and relentless – just six inches of fast-moving water can knock you off your feet, and a depth of two feet will float your car.
- Subsurface hazards can be deadly. Often, fast moving water is dirty with poor visibility, camouflaging hazards that can injure or trap a person.
- If you do fall into swift moving water, position yourself on your back with your feet pointing downstream, head above water.
- Creeks and rivers are filled with rocks and other debris which can become very unstable with high flow levels from storms. To avoid foot entrapments, do not stand in moving water above your knees.
- Creek and river banks may be saturated and undercut; they could give way should a person step too near the edge.
Weather & forecast information can be found at:
- https://www.facebook.com/NWSHanford?mibextid=LQQJ4d
For information about current road conditions, please contact:
- Madera County Public Works (559) 675-7811 or visit https://www.maderacounty.com/government/public-works
- Caltrans 800-427-7623 or visit https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov
One of the most important steps you can take in preparing for an emergency is to sign up for emergency alerts from MCALERT:
- Go to www.mcalert.org to sign up for emergency alerts for your location.
- Text your zip code to 888777 to sign up for alerts in your town.
Emergency alerts are targeted to your location and are a valuable tool officials use to communicate during critical incidents including natural disasters or hazards.
To find your zone, visit MaderaAware.com.
Source & photo: Madera County Sheriff's Office
